Grain puffing equipment



June 21, 1938. w J CHARNLEY 2,120,964

I GRAIN PUFFI-NG EQUIPMENT Fild Feb, 10, 1937 INVENTOR. Wd/fer J. Churn/2y ATTORNEYS.

. Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRAIN rurrmc EQUIPMENT Walter J. charmer, Omaha, Nebr.

Application February 10, 1937, Serial No. 125,103

11 claims. (01. 99-238) 1 This invention relates to grain pulling equipment and particularly apparatus for processing cereals and the primary object is to providenovel braking means for the lid of the barrel so that when the latch of the lid is released the force exerted will not be-destructive to the supporting links and their associated parts.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 116,777,

filed December 19, 1936Jand pertaining to im-.

provements in grain pufling machine.

, One of the problems confronting successf operation of grain pumng machines wherein a tremendous pressure is built up, is the proper braking or stopping of the opening action of the lid after the same has been released. A large number of structures have been employed in an eifort to safeguard the entire machine but difficulties have arisen in practically every instance. One of the important aims of this invention therefore, is to provide rugged, eflectiveand unique means for gradually bringing to a stop the lid of the pufling machine after it has been unlatched to permit the quick escape of processed grains from within the barrel.

An even further object of the invention is the provision of unique braking means for the lid and associated parts of grain pufllng equipment which is mounted directly upon the barrel of the ma- 3 chine; which has yieldable means for maintaining the friction faces of the braking means in engagement; which has manually operable means forseparating the friction elements therein when the lid is moved back to the barrel closing position; and which actually forms a part of the lid supporting train of links.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a vertical substantially central sectional view through grain pufllng equipment having a brake made in accordance with the pres.- ent invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryv sectional view through the brake taken on line II1I of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of the invention.

The manner of constructing and method of operating the grain pufling equipment illustrated in Fig. 1 is thoroughly set forth in my aforesaid copending application for U. S. Letters Patent and one skilled in the art will readily recognize that 5 there is provided a frame 4 upon which is rotatably mounted a barrel 6 provided with a cavity I therein for the reception of grain to be proces'sed. An opening III is formed through the annular side of barrel 6 and a lid l2 permits closing this opening it while heat is being applied to the barrel from a source not here shown. Lid

i2 is swingably mounted for movement toward and from the closed position by a series of links, one of which is in the form of yoke l4 that carries screw I 6 having direct connection with lid l2. A pair of opposed ears l8 formed integrally with barrel 6 support cross pin 20 which passes through yoke l4 to pivotally mount the same. Another pair of ears 22 and 24 respectively are rigid with barrel 6 and openings 26 and 28 formed through ears 22 and 24 respectively support cross shaft 30 as more clearly indicated by Fig. 2. One of the links which assists in swingably supporting lid I2 is in the form of a disc 32 which has an opening 34 formed therethrough for the reception of shaft 30. Yoke i4 and disclike link 32- are joined by link36 as illustrated in Figure 1 and when lid I2 is moved from the position shown in this figure, relative movement between the several links is permitted by their interconnection and means of support. Link 36 is pinned to disc 32 as at 38 and as lid I2 is opened disc 32 rotates about the axis of shaft 30. It is this movement that is retarded by the two friction plates 40 and 42. These plates are carried byshaft 30 and plate 40 is pinned as at 44 directly to shaft 30 so: asto be rigid therewith. Plate 42 is loosely mounted .upon shaft 30 but held against rotation'about the axis thereof by shoulders 46 integral therewith. These shoulders rest against the outer periphery of barrel 6 and an adjusting nut '48 affords means for precluding play on the part of plate 42. Plate 40 is likewise formed so as to present shoulders 50 and 'a similar adjusting nut 52 should also be disposed as shown in Figure 2.

'Each plate 40 and 42 is faced with suitable friction material 54 in the nature of well known brake lining and anasbestos substance should preferably be used because of the heat encountered during the operation of the equipment. This facing 54 is removably associated with plates 40 and 42 and may be replaced as desired when worn. Plates 40 and 42 as well as disc 32 are mounted upon shaft 30 between ears 22 and 24 and the amount of friction desired maybe determined and obtained by manipulating set screws 56 that are threaded through tapped openings formed in ear 24.- These setscrews bear against plate 42 and move it toward disc 32 ciprocably mounted in ears 22 and 24 and a spring 66 yieldably maintains shaft "at one end of its path of travel. A nut 60 threaded upon the end of shaft 30 may be manipulated to alter the tension 'of spring. 58 and it is this nut 60 that is adjusted by the operator when greater or lesser braking force is desired. The other end of shaft 30 is provided with an operating lever 62 which is pivotally pinned to shaft 30 by pintle 64. The lower end of lever 62 is bifurcated and presents a cam 66 on each side of shaft 30 which bears against the outer face of car 22. when lever 62 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the braking faces of the elements aforementioned are together.

- desirable to relieve the braking force and such may be accomplished merely by drawing lever 62 down about the axis of pintle 64 so that earns 66 will bear against the outer face of ear 22 and thus move shaft 30 toward the other end of its path of travel against the force of spring 66 so moving shaft 30 will draw plate 40 away from disc 32 and obviously disc 32 will not be forced against plate 42 until the lever is returned to the position shown. So relievingthe braking force will permit the operator to easily return lid 12 to the closed position. When barrel 6 starts torotate frame 4 strikes lever 62 and forces it up to a point where the brake is fully operative, all without the operator returning lever 62 to the released position. I

The latch mechanism illustrated in Fig. l is sufficient to releasably hold lid l2 in the closed position'and the same consists of a latch element 68 pivotally mounted upon pin I0 between a pair of ears 12. This latch element engages one end of yoke i4 and a lever 14 having a cam face I6 serves to hold latch element 68 in place. The additional lever 16 and link 18 merely present connections to lever 14 that may be struck to release the lid when barrel 6 is in position -to have i the lid released for the purpose of forcing out the contents.

' A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 3; all parts of the braking structure shown in this figure are the same as those detailed in Fig. 2 with the exception of disc 32 that lies between plates 40 and 42. In the particular modification illustrated this plate 32 has been multiplied into two plates 30, each of which has a side frictionally engaging the facing 54 on plates 40 and 42 and another side engaging facing 92 carried by an intermediate plate 94 mounted upon shaft 30 in a manner similar to plates 40 and 42 and between the two discs 90. Obviously such construction increases the area of the friction surfaces and therefore, the braking action. It is conceivable that any number of links such as 32 and 90 may be mounted upon shaft 30 to increase the amount of braking surface afforded by the structure.

It has been found that-a brake constructed as herein specified will efficiently serve to overcome the destructive force exerted upon lid l2 when the pumng equipment is in use and while but two forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cereal pufllng machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening After the lid has been forced open it is and disc 32 toward plate 40. Shaft 36 is re-- through the side thereof; a lid for the opening.

swingably mounted for movement to and fromthe closed position; a yoke so mounting the lid;

a series of links in connection with the yoke; and

friction elements engaging one of' the links of the series for opposing the opening action of the lid. i Ir;

a series of links in connection with the yoke;

friction elements engaging one of the links of the series for-opposing the opening action of the lid; and a yieldable member holding the friction elements against the said one link.

In a cereal pumng machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening swingably mounted for movement to and from the closed position; a yoke so mounting the lid; a series of links in connection with the yoke; friction elements engaging one of the. links of the series for opposing the opening action of the lid; a yieldable member holding the friction elements against the said one link; and adjusting means to vary the tension of the yieldable member. V

4. In a cereal pulling machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening swingably mounted for movement to and from the closed position; a yoke so mounting the lid; a series of links in connection with the yoke; a disc having a transverse opening therethrough formed by one of the links; -a shaft extending through the opening pivotally supporting the disc; a relatively stationary friction plate against one side of the disc; and means for holding the friction plate out of engagement with the disc.

5. In a cereal pufllng machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening swingably mounted for movement to and from the closed position; a yoke so mounting the lid; a series of links in connection with the yoke; a disc having a transverse opening therethrough formed by one of the links; a shaft extending through the opening pivotally supporting the disc; a relatively stationary friction plate against one side of the disc; means for holding the friction plate out of engagement with the disc; and

ayieldable member holding the friction plate against one side of the disc when the holding means is inoperative.

6. In a cereal puffing machine of the character described. a barrel provided with an opening through the side, thereof; a lid for the opening; ears integral with the barrel; articulated links pivotally carried by the ears; cross shafts extending through the ears and links for so carrying the links; means joining one of the links and the the links; means joining one of the links and the lid; a pair of friction plates on one of the cross shafts, one on each side of another of the links and normally thereagainst, to oppose the opening action of the lid; and release means for separating the last mentioned link and friction plates.

8. In a cereal puffing machine of the character described, a. barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening;

ears integral with the barrel; articulated links pivotally carried by the ears; cross shafts extending through the ears and links for so carrying the links; means joining one of the links and v the lid; and a pair of friction plates on one of the cross shafts, one on each side of another of the links and normally in frictional engagement therewith, to oppose the opening action of the lid,

' said last mentioned link being rotatable about the axis of the cross shaft, said friction plates being anchored against rotary movement about the cross shaft, one of said friction plates being means thereon for moving both the shaft and friction plate pinned thereto independently of the last mentioned link to relieve the frictional engagement therebetween. I

9. In a cereal pulling machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening; ears integral with the barrel; articulated links pivotally carried by the ears; cross shafts extending through the-ears and links for so carrying the links; means joining one of the links and the lid; and a pair of friction plates on one of the cross shafts, one on each side of another of the links and normally in frictional engagement therewith, to oppose the opening action of the lid,

I said last mentioned link being rotatable about the axis of the cross shaft, said friction plates being anchored against rotary movement about the-cross shaft, one of said friction plates being pinned to said cross shaft, the other of said friction plates having adjusting means for decreasing or increasing the distance between the friction plates and link therebetween.

10. In a cereal puffing machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening;

ears integral with the barrel; articulated links pivotally carried by the ears; cross shafts extending through the ears and links for so carrying the links; means joining one of the links and the lid; and a pair of friction plates on one of the cross shafts, one on each side of another of the links and normally in frictional engagement therewith, to oppose the opening action of the lid, said last mentioned link being rotatable about the axis of the cross shaft, said friction plates being anchored against rotary movement about the cross shaft, one of said friction plates being pinned to saidcross shaft, said shaft being longitudinally reciprocable to effect release of the frictional engagement when at one end of its path of travel, the shaft being provided with yieldable means for maintaining the shaft at the other end of its path of travel and the proximal facesof the last mentioned link and friction plates in engagement. I

11. In a cereal puffing machine of the character described, a barrel provided with an opening through the side thereof; a lid for the opening; ears integral with the barrel; articulated links pivotally carried by the ears; cross shafts extending through the ears and links for so carrying the links; means joining one of the links and the lid; and a pair of friction plates on one of the cross shafts, one on each side of another of the links and normally in frictional engagement therewith, to oppose the opening action of the lid, said last mentioned link being rotatable about the axis of the cross shaft, said friction plates being anchored against rotary movement about the cross shaft, one of said friction plates bein pinned to said cross shaft, said shaft being iongitudinally reciprocable to effect release of the frictional engagement when at one end of its path of travel, the shaft being provided with yieldable means for maintaining the shaft at the other end of its path of travel and the proximal faces of the last mentioned link and friction plates in engagement, said yieldable means hav- WALTER J.- CHARNLE'Y. 

